Pune Woman Loses Rs.33.81 Lakh To Online Scammers Posing As Police, TRAI Officials

Pune Woman Loses Rs.33.81 Lakh To Online Scammers Posing As Police, TRAI Officials
A 32-year-old homemaker from Vadgaonsheri, Pune, fell prey to a sophisticated online scam, losing ₹33.81 lakh to fraudsters posing as officials from the Mumbai police and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
The scammers intimidated the victim by claiming she was under “digital arrest” for alleged misuse of a SIM card issued in her name. They coerced her into transferring the money into their accounts, threatening legal action and arrest if she refused to comply.
The scam unfolded on December 7, when the victim received a call from an individual claiming to be a TRAI official. The caller alleged that a SIM card in her name had been misused and that the Mumbai police had filed an FIR against the misuse. The victim was then connected to an accomplice impersonating a Mumbai police officer, who falsely informed her that she was under “digital arrest” for 14 days.
The fraudsters further escalated their scheme by involving another accomplice, who posed as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber). During a video call, the so-called officer demanded the victim’s Aadhaar card, PAN card, and bank account details for “verification.”
Under the pretext of resolving the issue, the scammers persuaded the woman to disclose information about her bank accounts. They then coerced her into transferring ₹33.81 lakh to accounts they controlled.
The victim realized she had been conned when the fraudsters stopped communicating with her. She immediately approached the authorities to report the incident.
The Yerawada police have registered an FIR and are investigating the case. Senior Inspector Ravindra Shelke stated, “We are investigating the case and have reached out to banks, telecom companies, and online payment platforms to gather details of the financial transactions, calls, and messages involved. Efforts are underway to trace the culprits.”
The police have urged citizens to remain vigilant against such scams and avoid sharing personal or financial details over the phone, especially under threats of legal action.